Julio Rodriguez MLB Show 22: All-Star Card or Home Run Derby Card?

There’s a new name to add to the full list of MLB big names. After the incredible first half of the season and his incredible performance in the Home Run Derby, Julio Rodriguez has emerged as one of the game’s next big stars.

Despite finishing second in the derby, Rodriguez put on a great show. Rodriguez led at home with 63 points in the first two rounds and beat two-time defending champion Pete Alonso.

In the last week of content airing on MLB The Show 22, Rodriguez received two new cards. One for the All-Stars franchise and the other for the Home Run Derby. So, which card is better and which one to choose, let’s take a look.

First, let’s take a look at the Julio Rodriguez All-Star card that was released alongside the team’s All-Star program.

All-Star card

This map is 97 common. The statistics are very good overall. His stats against rights are 90 against and 86 PW. Against the left it’s even better with 108 cones and 114 pows. What sets this map apart from others is its speed. He has 99 speed, 94 interceptions and 98 basic aggression.

Julio also has excellent defense on this map. 89 throws, 97 arms, 88 reactions and 72 accelerations. The only low stat here is 72 rush, but that’s easily offset by his 99 speed.

It’s a great map to use and much more affordable than the Home Run Derby map. Now let’s look at your other card.

Home Run Derby Map

The Julio Rodriguez Home Run Derby map has a slight difference from the other map. Increased hit stats while losing defense and speed.

His shooting stats are better than the All-Star card, except for one stat, left contact. Rodriguez’s contact stats are 102 against the right flanks and 103 against the left flanks. The power stat is 124, at a distance from the maximum.

He has a tusk where he falls. Compared to the diamond-protected All-Star card, the Home Run Derby card has a silver finish. His stats are 64 throws, 92 arms, 62 sprints, and 63 reactions, which is a significant drop from the second card. Reduced defensive features are something that’s always on Home Run Derby maps.

His speed is still elite, with a tiny drop to 98. 84 interceptions and 88 rushes are still considered elite, albeit low.

The final decision

Both maps are excellent, don’t get me wrong, but they are different. If you value defense more than offense, the All-Star card is for you. If you care more about offense than defense, the Home Run Derby map is for you.

The only downside for those who want a Home Run Derby pass is its affordability. Removing the card from packaging is difficult for two reasons. First, the pack is expensive at 30,000, and two, rare shells are hard to come by. Moreover, the card is very expensive in the market and currently costs around 220,000 Stubs.

With all the information provided, we hope you have made the best choice for the Julio Rodriguez card in your lineup.